Resident Runs for Slain Student's Charity

Some go the extra mile; Berkeley resident Wendy Georges went an extra 31.

The 48-year-old ultra marathon athlete ran the 10 kilometer course five times at the annual Run for Life charity race Saturday as part of a team effort to raise money for the Meleia Willis-Starbuck Memorial Fund, dedicated to the slain Berkeley teen who was fatally shot outside her Southside apartment last month.

"It seemed like a great way to raise awareness," Georges said. "It's so nice to be able to do something that you love, and to be able to do it for a higher purpose."

Georges joined about 175 runners in the run's three, five and 10 kilometer events, held at UC Berkeley's Edwards Stadium. Each runner or team of runners raised money for a charity of their choice by petitioning individuals and organizations for sponsorship.

Georges, who has been running ultra marathons of 50 kilometers or more for several years, became involved with the race and the memorial fund through her friend Katherine Ruiz. Willis-Starbuck was a close friend of Ruiz's daughter, Mercedes, who named her child Meleia in Willis-Starbuck's memory. Willis-Starbuck was to be godmother to the baby, who was born Aug. 21.

Willis-Starbuck's example inspired 28 people to form Team Meleia, which carried on Willis-Starbuck's passion for aiding the less fortunate by racing in the fundraiser.

"She was such an amazing person," said former Berkeley High student and team member Sean Erick. "She got involved so deeply in the community, I felt that participating (in the race) was the least I could do."

Team members raised money for the fund, which provides scholarships for students committed to community involvement and raises awareness of gun violence. The final amount raised will not be known until Tuesday, said run director Steven Restivo.

Willis-Starbuck was a Berkeley High graduate who was attending Dartmouth College, where she was intending to major in sociology and African-American studies, and had come back to Berkeley for the summer. Early on the morning of July 17, Willis-Starbuck was on her way to a party with high school friends when she was gunned down outside her apartment.

She had returned to Berkeley to intern at the Women's Daytime Drop-In Center, an organization that Georges, an Alameda County social worker, visits twice a week.

"There is a definitely a relationship between her volunteer work and my job," said Georges. "We had things in common in spite of not really knowing each other."

Race officials praised the pairing of Georges and Team Meleia.

"They found out that it was an excellent opportunity to raise money for their cause," said Craig Long, vice president of Run for Life. "The Run for Life is very happy to partner with these kinds of causes."

Along with the Meleia Willis-Starbuck Memorial Fund, other local organizations like the Berkeley Special Needs Aquatics program and Berkeley Food and Housing Project will also receive funds from race proceeds.

"There are people in our community who need help," said Deborah Badhia, executive director of the Downtown Berkeley Association. "This is a healthy way to support them."

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